Traditional Barbecue Sauce by Pamela Rice Hahn

Use this sauce as you'd use any barbecue sauce, as a serving sauce served on the side, or as a dipping sauce. Most barbecue seasoning mixes contain salt, so salt isn't added to this recipe.

INGREDIENTS | YIELDS about 2½ cups

2 cups ketchup

¼ cup apple cider vinegar

¼ cup Worcestershire sauce

¼ cup light brown sugar, firmly packed

2 tablespoons molasses

2 tablespoons prepared mustard

1 tablespoon barbecue seasoning

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Optional: 2 teaspoons liquid smoke

Optional: 1 tablespoon hot sauce, or to taste

Add all ingredients to the slow cooker. Stir to mix.

Cover and, stirring every 15 minutes, cook on high for 1 hour or until the mixture reaches a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and, continuing to stir every 15 minutes, cook uncovered 1 hour or until the sauce has reached desired thickness.

Ladle into glass jars; cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.

Customizing Barbecue Sauce

You can change up the flavor of Traditional Barbecue Sauce by using a mix of prepared (yellow) mustard and Dijon or stone-ground mustard, adding red pepper flakes or some Mrs. Dash (Extra Spicy or Southwest Chipotle) seasoning, or substituting lemon juice for the vinegar.